Can-filling machine.



0. u. HANSEN. CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3.19I5.

4 SHEETS-SHEET i.

H HANSEN LAN mum; MACHINE.

.HLAHON 1ElEDJUfJE3, 19H

lntvmvd June 27, 1916 4 SHEETSSHEEVT 2.

U. H. HANShN.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm JUNE 3.19:5.

llmrll, l 1

latvntml Junv 27, 19M.

4 SHEETS -SHEET 3A rl'h m-A/m? h, H. HANSEN.

(TM) FILLING MACHINE.

HILICATION FILED 19M :4, H15.

4 251' SHEt A-rrokMrK OSWALD H. HANSEN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

CAN-FILLING MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J 11110 27, 1916.

Application filed June 3, 1915. Serial No. 31,813.

To a?! Whom it may conccrn:

lie.it known that I, ()swALn ll. HANsnX, a citizen of the United States. residing at l\lilwaul\'ce. in the county of Milwaukee and State of \Yisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Filling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

.This invention relates to improvements in the construction of can filling machines, and especially to improvements in devices for automatically filling cans with a mixture of liquid and solids such as peas, beans, berries and the like.

An object of the invention is to phovidea can filling machine which is simple in construction and eificient in operation.

Some of the more specific objects are as follows:-'lo provide a device which utomatically and accurately measures the peas, beans or the like and delivers the same" to the cans without injuring the same. To pro- 'vide a machine in which the liquid or brine is accurately measured and automatically delivered to the cans. To provide a filler in which the wasting of brine is reduced to a minimum. To provide a mechanism which may be readily and quickly assembled and disassembled. To provide a device which may be readily cleaned and kept in sanitary condition. To provide a machine which may be readily operated with minimum power. To provide a continuously operable fillcr of maximum capacity. To provide a mechanism which can be manufactured at minimum cost. To provide a filler covering minimum floor space. To provide a smooth running mechanism in which the relatively heavy elements always travel in the same direction. To provide a filling machine which is readily adjustable to vary the amounts of peas and brine delivered to the cans. To provide a. machine in which the amounts of peas and brine are adjustable while the machine is in operation. To provide a device which is adapted to handle peas, etc.. of various sizes. To provide a filler which may be operated without danger of injury to the operator. A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a can filling machine, the section being taken along a vertlcal central plane. Fig. 2 tion through the can filling machine disclosed in Flg. 1. F 1g. 3 is a transverse horiis a transverse central vertical sec- Zontal section through the can filling machine disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, the section being taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2. looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is an enlarged development of a circular section through the pea and brine measuring pockets and associated mechanism, of the can filling machine disclosed in the preceding figures. Fig. 5 is a. fragmentary central vertical section through a can feeding mechanism. the section being taken along the line VV of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged top view of the measuring pockets of the can filling machine, showing also a horizontal transverse section through a fragment of the lower end of the main feed hopper, and a top view of the feed cutofi' valve. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged development of a section through several of the pea measuring pockets, the main feed hopper and the cutofi valve. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged development of a section through several of the pea measuring pockets. showing the cutoff valve in operation. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged de- \ilOPIllCHt of a section through several of the pea measuring pockets, showing the cutoil valve in operation.

The term peas as used throughout the present specification and claims, to cover any material or substance having characteristics similar to those of peas.

While the operation of the machine-as described herein, relates specifically to the art of filling tin cans with a mixture of peas and brine, it should be understood that the device is equally well adapted to fill any other type of vessel with a mixture of other substances such as beans, berries, etc., and anv kind of liquid.

lVhile the filler disclosed herein is especially well adapted to fill what is known in the art as sanitary cans, it is not intended to limit the invention to such application.

The frame of the can filling machine disclosed herein comprises essentially three superposed sections, namely, the upper section or frame 2, the intermediate section or frame 3 and the lower section comprising the main frames 4, see Figs. 1. and 2. The upper frame 2 is vertically adjust-ably supis intendeddriving connection betweenv ported upon the parallel rods 11, 12 by means of the removable collars 14. The rods 11, 12 pass downwardly through bores in the intermediate frame 3 and have screw threaded lower ends which coact with threaded openings in the can guiding and supporting frame 5. The frame 5 is rigidly secured to the main frame 4 by any suitable means not shown. The lower extremities of the rods 11, 12 are providedwithsprockets 27 which are operatively connected to each other by means of a sprocket-chain 28. The rod 11 is manually rotatable to vertically adjust one side of the upper frame 2 relative to the frames 4, 5, by means of a hand wheel 13 detachably secured to the upper end thereof. The rotary motion of the rod 11 is transmitted to the rod 12 through the sprocket 27 and chain 28 to simultaneously vertically adjust the opposite side of the frame 2.

.The upper frame 2 fo rms a support for the main supply hopper 1, the feed cutoff valve 34 and the sealing cover 30. The frame 2 together with the elements supported thereby is freely removable from the machine upon removal of the collar 14 at the upper end of the rod. 12 and of the hand wheel 13 at the upper end of the rod 11.

The intermediate frame 3 is detachably secured to the main frames 4 by means of eye bolts and thumb nuts 29. The frame 3 rests upon the upper extremities of the frames 4 and forms a support for the brine tank 20, the pockets 15, 19 and the stationary frame 33. The stationary circular plate 22 is secured to and forms a part of the frame 3. The frame 3 and the elements supported thereby is removable from the machine upon removal of the collars 14, the hand Wheel 13, the frame 2 with its associated elements and the measuring pockets 15, 19

The main frames, 4 are spaced apart and secured to each other by means. of the tie rods 51. The gear housing 6 and can supporting frame 5 also connect the frames 4 thereby providing a rigid lower supporting structure for the machine. The gear housing 6 and frames 5, 3, 2 have central hubs which are provided with alined bores forming bearings for the vertical main shaft 7. The main shaft 7 is vertically supported upon the frames 5, 3, 2 by means of removable thrust collars 72, 73 which coact with the frames 5, 2, respectively. The extreme lower end of the main shaft 7 is provided with a bevel gear 8 which is housed within the casing 6 and meshes with the pinion 9. e pinion 9 is secured to the power shaft 10 which is removably supported in suitable hearings in the casing 6. The shaft 10 is rotatable by means of suitable driving mechanism applied to the pulley 50, the the pulley 50 and the shaft 10 being manually controllable by means of a clutch 52. The clutch 52 is operable ,by means of a hand lever 53 having a fulcrum pivot 64011 the gear casing 6.

The end of the shaft 10 remote from the pulley 50 is provided with a bevel gear 69 which meshes with a, bevel gear 68 secured to the lower extremity of the Vertical shaft 65. The shaft is mounted in. a vertical bearing 66 which is secured to the gear casing 6. The shaft (55 is properly positioned within the bearing 66 by means of removable and adjustable collars 67. The upper extremity of the shaft 65 is provided with a rotary can discharging disk in a portion of which extends over one side of the frame 5. The disk 44 and shaft 65 may be readily removed from the bearing 66 upon removal of the gear 68 and the lower retaining collar 67. i A scraper 49 located adjacent the frame 5 is provided in order to insure proper removal of the filled cans 26.

The can' feeding mechanism'see Figs. 3 and 5, comprises essentially a can guiding frame 45 the upper receiving end of which communicates with a can supplying source and the lower delivery end of which is located adjacent the can conveying element 25. series of peripheral, recesses which are adapted to successively engage the cans 26 as they are delivered from the frame 45 and to. slide them along the circular projection 70 which forms a can guide on the frame 5. The element 25 is keyed to and is rotatable by the main shaft 7. The cans 26 are urged through the feeding, frame 45 by gravity and are automatically pushed into the successively a pproaching recesses of the element 25 flS this element is rotated by the shaft 7. v i

' A circular series of can filling hoppers 23 is secured to the main shaft 7 by means of the key 24. One of the hoppers 23 is located directly above each of the peripheral recesses in the element 25, the lower extremities of the hoppers 23 being formed for engagement with the tops of the cans '26 and the frame 5 being provided are adapted to automatically elevate and to bring the can tops into engagement with the hopper ends. As disclosed, there are six feeding hoppers 23, although any suitable number of hoppers may be provided.

A circular series of measuring pockets 19 is secured to the main shaft 7 by means of the spline for key 16, the lower end of'which engages a hub to which the pockets 19 are sefilled. The lower extremities of the pockets 19 coact with the plate 22 to form a liquid seal. The pockets 19 are rotatable upon the plate 22 by means of the The can conveying clement 25-has a 1 with rails which shaft 7 so as to bring them successively in line with the discharge opening 47. The hoppers 2 which are in line with the pockets 19 are also brought successively in line with the opening 47 during rotation of the shaft 7. The lower plate of the stationary frame 33 courts with the upper extremities of the pockets 19 to form a liquid seal and .has a brine admission opening 18 formed therethrough. which during rotation of the shaft 7. is also brought in line with the successive pockets 19.

A circular series of pea measuring pockets 15 is secured to the main shaft 7 by means of the spline or key 10 the upper end of which engages a hub to which the walls 92 of the pockets 15 are rigidly secured, see Figs. '2, 4, 3. 7. 8, and 9. The vertical walls 3'. of the pockets 15 coact at their lower extremities with the upper plate of the frame 33 to form a seal. The upper vertically adjustable portions of the pockets 15 are also rotatably secured to the shaft 7 by means of the spline 1t: and/are fixed against longitudinal movement relative to the upper frame '2. by means of the collar 73. The upper extremities of the adjustable pocket portions coact with the sealing cover 30 which is fixed to the frame .2. The lower edgesof the adjustable portions of the pockets 15 have sliding engage ment with the inner surfaces of the walls 32. The upper portions of the pockets 15 are rotatable relative to the upper frame 2 and cover 30 by means of the shaft 7, and are vertically movable relative to the pocket walls 32 upon vertical adjustment of the frame 2 and cover 30 by means of the hand wheel 13. The position of maximum volume of a pocket 15 is indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2 being designated by reference character 150. The upper pocket portions have division walls 40 which during volumetric adjustment of the poclr 15 slide along the lower fixed division walls 32, see Figs. 7. 8 and 9.

The intermediate frame 33 is fixed against "rotation by means of a rod 17 which passes upwardly through an opening in the frame 2. The frame 33 forms a conduit 48 which during rotation of the shaft 7 is adapted to successively connect superposed pockets 15, 19 as indicated in Fig. 4. The remaining space between the upper and lower plates of the frame 3?) is in direct and open communication with the interior of the brine tank 20. The lower portion of the. brine tank 20 is provided with a heating coil 21 which has a swivel pivot 0 for permitting removal of the coil 21 as shown in dot and dash line in Fig. 1. The brine supply is admitted to the tank 20 through a feed pipe 56 having a swivel pivot 57 for permitting rapid removal of the pipe 56 as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, during dismantling of the filler. The feed pipe 56 is provided with shaft 7 is rotated, the upper open ends of the pockets 15 are brought successively into alinement with the discharge opening 42 of the hopper 1. A stirring device 61 which is rotatable by the main shaft 7 through the medium of spur gears 31, 62, serves to agitate the peas 46 within the hopper 1 and prevents bridging of the peas over the opening 42. The spur gears 31, (32 are rotatably mounted in bearings in the gear frame 63. The upper portion of the main shaft 7, to which the gear 31 is secured, is vertically adjustable with the frame 2 and relatively to the lower shaft portion, such adjustment being permitted by means of the sliding cou pling 71.

After a pocket 15 has been properly filled with peas 46 from the hopper 1, the supply of peas is cut off without injuring any of the peas, by means of a suitable cutoff valve 34, see Figs. 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9. The valve 34 which in the present disclosure is shown as of the rotary type, has a pivot 35 mounted in bearings on the sealing cover 30. The cutoff valve 34 is angularly adjustable upon and readily removable from the pivot 35 by means of a set screw 36. A longitudinal recess 39 is formed in the periphery of the valve this recess being so formed and located relative to the walls 41 that a pea of the maximum size can pass through the gap formed between the valve 34 and adjacent wall without being damaged. The valve shaft 35 has a weight 37 secured to one end thereof, which normally holds the valve 34 in the ppsition shown in Fig. 7. The weight 37 is provided with a suitable stop 38 which with the valve 34 in normal position engages the sehling cover 30. The weight 37 is also provided with a valve operating projection 43 which normally projects downwardly into the path of the revolving valve actuating lugs 41 formed on the upper adjustable portions of the pockets 15. The valve operating projection 43 is successively engageable with the advancing lugs 41 to actuate the valve 34 as indicated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. and to cut ofl the supply of peas from the hopper 1 to the passing pockets 15.

During the normal operation of the ma.- chine the brine tank 20 is filled with brine which is properly heated by means of the heating coil 21. The peas are admitted to the hopper 1 through the upper one: end

' shaft 10,

thereof, being fed downwardly-through the hopper by gravity. Bridging of the peas 46 over-the hopper discharge opening 42 is prevented by the normally rotating stirrer 61. The main shaft 7 is normally rotated in an anti-cloekwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, by means of the driving pulley 50, pinion 9 and gear 8, causing the element 25, hoppers 23, pockets 19 and pockets 15, to revolve about the shaft axis. The empty cans 26 are delivered to the successively approaching peripheral notches of the rotating element 25 by means of the frame 45 through Which the cans are fed by gravity. As the cans 26 after being delivered to the element 25 are carried along the circular guiding projection 70 of the frame 5, they are automatically filled with a mixture of peas and brine, the filled cans being delivered from the machine by means of the discharging disk 44 which is normally rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, by means of the pulley 50, shaft 10, gears 69, 68 and shaft 65. The rotation of the shafts 10, 7. 65 together with the element carried thereby is controllable by means of the clutch 52 which is manually operable by means of the lever 53.

As the peas 46 are delivered through the hopper discharge opening 42, they drop into and automatically entirely fill the advancing pea measuring pockets 15, see Fig. 4. As the successive pockets 15 become filled with peas 46, they continue their revolution about the shaft 7 until they reach a position of alinement with the conduit 48, when their contents are precipitated by gravity through the conduit 48 and into the mixture measuring pockets 19 directly below as indicated at the right of the mid-portion of Fig. 4. The empty pockets 15 then continue their travel being eventuallyagain brought in alinement with the hopper discharge opening 42 to be refilled. The partially filled pockets 19 after having received chargcsof peas, continue their travel until they are brbught in alinement with the brine feeding opening 18, when sutlicient brine is auto atically added to and mixed with the peas 4( in each pocket 1!) to just fill the same. tioned, the volume of the mixture of brine and peas contained in each filled pocket 19 is just equal to the volume bfthe portion of the can 26 which it is the desire to fill. The filled pockets 19 continue their course until they are eventually successively brought intovalinement with the discharge opening 47, when their contents are precipitated by gravity into the hopper 23 directly below. The mixture of peas and brine passes directly through the hoppers 23 and into the cans 26 below, after which the filled cans are successively discharged: from the machine as above described.

When the level of the brine in the tank As before men- 20 drops below a predetermined point, the float 54 moves downwardly shifting the lever 58 and opening the valve 55, see Fig. 1. Opening of the valve admits more brine to the tank 20 through the pipe 56, thereby automatically rcestablishing the desired brine level. The fresh supply of peas 46 may be end of the hopper 1 by any of the well known feeding d vices of the prior art. The supply of cans 2o may also be automatically replenished by any suitable means. not shown.

As each of the pea measuring pockets 15 becomes tilled uith peas 46 and its trailing division wall 40 approaches the cutoff valve 34, see Figs. 6. 7, 8 and 9, the actuating lug 41 directly adjacent the trailing wall 40 gradually engages the valve operating projection 43. Upon continued movement of the pocket 15, the lug 41 pushes the projection- 43 to the left causing the valve 34 to move in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. As the valve 34 assumes the successive positions shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the supply of peas 46 from the hopper 1 to the filled pocket 15 is automatically cut oil. \Vhen the lug 41 advances to a point of dtic-ngagement with the projection 43, the weight 37 becomes effective to automatically and quickly return the valve 34 to the position shown in Fig. 7. The rapidly returning valve-34 pushes any peas which may previously have been lodged be tween the valve and the adjacent wall 40, back into the next approaching pocket 15. It will thus be observed that the desired quantity of peas is automatically and ac curately measured and the supply out off without injuring any of the peas.

If it is desired to vary the quantity of peas 46 in each charge, this While the machine is in operation, by manipulating the hand-wheel 13 to vary the volumes of the pockets '15. Byvturning the hand-wheel 13 in the proper direction, the frame 2 with its associated elements may be either raised or lowered, producin a corresponding change in the location 0 the upper portions of the pockets 15 relative to the lower walls 32 thereof. During adjustment of the volumes of the pockets 15, the dividing walls 40 slide vertically along the Walls 32, and the central hub to which the adjustable pocket portions are fixed, moves vertically along the shaft 7 and spline 16 without interrupting the driving connec tion. It will thus be noted that the quanti ties of peas and brine may be readily altered without interrupting the operation of the machine. I

As the pockets 19 each of Which has a volume substantially equal to that of the portion of the can 26 to be filled, are placed in free and open communication with the automatically fed into the upper may be done able,

brine tank 20 after the measured quantities of peas have been admitted, it will be evident that the exact amounts of mixture required to fill each canwill be automatically obtained irrespective of the percentage of voids in the peas. The mixture of brine and peas is thus automatically measured and delivered to the cans without wasting any appreciable amount of brine.

In order to disassemble the machine, it is necessary to first remove the hand wheel 13 at the upper extremity of the rod 11 and the collar 14 at the upper extremity of the rod 12, after which the upper frame 2 and the elements carried thereby may be raised and slipped off of the upper ends of the rods 11, 12. After the upper frame 2 has been removed, the pocket walls 32, stationary frame and pockets 1) may be readily removed from the central shaft 7. Upon removal of these elements from the shaft 7, the heating coil 21 and brine feed pipe 56 may be swung back as shown in dot and dash lines in Fi 1, thereby leaving the interior of the brine tank 20 free from obstructions. Upon removal of the coil 21 and pipe 56, the frame 3 and brine tank 20 may be retrieved by removal of the lower collars 11 from the rods 11, 12 and release of the thumb nuts 29. \Vith the intermediate frame 3 and brine tank 20 removed from the machine, the hoppers 23, element 25 and shaft 7 may be readily removed. The disk 44 and shaft are readily removable as are the remaining elements of the device, thereby providing a structure which may be readily assembled and coinpletely disassembled for inspection and repairs.

The fact that the various elements of the machine are readily accessible and removalso permits easy cleaning of the parts to maintain the machine in sanitary condition. The various elements such as the tanks, hoppers and pockets are also preferably enameled or constructed of suitable min-corrosive materials, thereby permitting ready cleansing of these elements with the use of water.

By suspending the revolving pockets 15, 1t), hoppers 23 and element 25 from a vertical driving shaft 7, the various forces on the driving shaft are automatically balanced and the machine may be operated with the expenditure of minimum power. The ar' rangement of superposed pockets and hoppers which are revoluble about a central vertical shaft 7, also produces a filler of relatively large capacity covering minimum lloor space. The machine may be operated at a relatively high speed without undesirably splashing the liquid passing therethrough as all of the heavier movable elements are eontinumisly revoluble in the same direction. This feature produces a filler of minimum size and maximum capacity.

As most of the elements of the device which require any finishing or machining, are finished only at surfaces of revolution,

the finished surfaces may be readily ma--' chined in a lathe or boring mill at minimum cost. The entire strurt ure is simple but rigid in its construction and requires far less machining than any of the machines ot' the prior art which are adapted for similar service.

The filler will handle peas of any size with equal ellicienry and may be readily operated by a single operator. The operation of all moving parts of the machine is under control of the single operating lever 53, thereby permitting rapid and simultaneous stopping and starting of the entire mecha nism. As the gears and other dangerous rotating elements are well covered and out of easy reach, danger of injuring the operator is reduced to a minimum.

It should be understood that it is not desired to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described for various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters laten 1. In a machine for filling cans with a mixture of granular and liquid materials, means for measuring a quantity of one of the materials, means for mixing with said measured quantity of material just sullicient of the other material to produce a predetermined quantity of the mixture, and means for delivering the mixture to a can.

2. In a machine for filling cans with a mixture of granular and liquid materials, means for successively measuring equal quantities of one of the materials, means for mixing with said measured quantities of material just sullicient of the other material to produce equal quantities of the mixture, and means for sticeessively delivering the quantities of mixture to cans.

3. In a machine for filling cans with a mixture of granular and liquid materials, means for measuring a quantity of one of the materials, means for varying the volume of the quantity measured, means for mixing with said measured quantity of material just sutlicient of the other material to produce a predetermined quantity of the mixture irrespective of the volume of the quantity of material first measured, and means for delivering the mixture to a can.

4. In a machine for filling cans with a mixture of granular and liquid materials, means for successively measuring quantities of one of the materials, means for varying the volumes of the quantities measured, means for mixing with said measured quantities of material just suflicient of the other material to produce equal quantities of the mixture irrespective of the volumes of the quantities of material first measured, and means for successively delivering the quantities of mixture to cans.

5. In a machine for filling cans with a mixture of granular and liquid materials, a measuring pocket, means for filling said pocket with granular material, a second pocket having a volume at least as great as that of said first pocket, means for delivering the material from said first to said second pocket, means for mixing with said material just sufficient liquid to fill said second pocket, and mcansfor delivering the mixture to a can.

6. In a machine for filling cans with a mixture of granular and liquid materials, a ser of measuring pockets, means for feeding granular material to said pockets, a second series of pockets, means for delivering the contents of said first pockets to the pockets of said second series, means for adding liquid material to the pockets of said second series, and means for delivering the contents of the pockets of said second series to cans.

7. In a can filling machine, a measuring pocket movable about an axis, means for iilling said pocket with granular material, a second pocket movable about said axis and having a preiletermined volume, means for deiivcring the material from said first to said second pocket, "means for mixing with the material just sufiicient liquid to fill said second pocket, and means for delivering the mixture to a can.

8. In a can filling machine, a device having a predetermined volume, means for sin'uiltaneously moving said device and a can about an axis, means for delivering variable quantities of granular material to said dcvicc means for mixing with said material just suilicient liquid to fill said device irrespective of the volume of the quantity of granular material, and means for delivering the mixture to said can.

9. In a can filling machine, a rcvoluble series of pea measuring pockets, means for feeding peas to the successive pockets, a second revoluble series of pockets, means for successively delivering the contents of said pea measuring pockets to the successive p ckets of said second serics, means for admitting brine to the successive pockets of said second series, and means for successively delivering the contents of the pockets of said second series to cans.

l(). in a can filling machine, a revoluble i es of pea measuring pockets, means for oniatically feeding peas to the successive pwii'etsga second rcvoluble series of pockets below said first series, means for successively delivering the contents of said pea measuring pockets to the successive pockets of said second series, means for admitting brine to the successive pockets of said second series, means for feeding a series of cans, and means for successively delivering the contents of the pockets of said second series to successive cans.

11. In a can filling machine, a hopper having a discharge opening, a pocket movable in proximity to said opening, and a rotary cutofi' valve between said hopper and said pocket, said valve being operable by a portion of said pocket.

12. In a can filling machine, a hopper having and means for subsequently reversing the direction of movement of said valve.

14. In a can filling machine, a hopper having a discharge opening, a pocket movable in proximity to said opening, a cut off valve having a longitudinal recess, and means for actuating said valve when the trailing end of said pocket passes said recess.

15. In a can filling machine, a hopper, a movable pocket, a valve having a longitudinal recess, and means for actuating said valve when an end of said pocket passes said recess.

16. In a can filling machine, a hopper, an adjustable pocket movable in proximity to said hopper, a valve, means for actuating said valve when the trailing end of said pocket passes the same, and means for adjusting the volume of said pocket during movement thereof.

17. In a can filling machine, a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a circular series of pea measuring pockets secured to said shaft, a. second circular series of measuring pockets secured to said shaft below said first series, and a circular series of hoppcrs secured to said shaft below said second series of pockets, succesive pockets and hoppers of said series being in alinement.

18. In a can filling machine, two superposed series of alined measuring pockets, means for. simultaneously rotating said pockets, means for feeding material through said upper pockets to said lower pockets, means for feeding other material to said lower pockets, and means for delivering the contents of said lower pockets to cans.

19. In a can filling machine, two superposed series of measuring pockets movable about a common -,axis, means for feeding peas to the pockets of the upper series, means for delivering the contents of the pockets of said upper series to the pockets of the lower series, means for admitting brine to the pockets of said lower series, and means for delivering the contents of the pockets of said lower series to cans.

20. In a can filling machine, a plurality of superposed frames, a shaft mounted in said frames, two su erposed series of measuring pockets secured to said shaft intermediate said frames, said pockets being removable from said shaft upon removal of at least one of said frames, means for feeding material to said upper pockets, means for delivering the contents of said upper pockets to said lower pockets, means for admitting other material to said lower pockets, and

lower pockets.

means for discharging the contents of said 21. In a can filling machine, two superposed series of measuring pockets, means for simultaneously rotating said pockets, means for adjusting the volume of the pockets of at least one of said series during rotation thereof, means for feeding material through said adjustable pockets to the other of said pockets, means for adding other material to the latter of said pockets, and means for-discharging the material from the latter of said pockets.

In a can filling machine, a measuring pocket, a second pocket below said measuring pocket, means for feeding granular material through said upper pocket to said lower pocket, means for adding liquid to the material in said-lower pocket, and means for delivering the contents of said lower pocket to a can.

23. In a can filling machine, a measuring device, means for filling said device with granular material, a second measuring device having a volume greater than that of said first device, means for delivering the material from said firstto said second device, means for mixing with said material just sufiicient liquid to fill said second device, and means for delivering the mixture to a can.

24. In a can filling machine, a measuring device. means for delivering variable quantities of granular material to said device, means for mixing with said material just sullicient liquid to fill said device 'irrespective of the volume of the first material admitted, and means for delivering the mixture to a can.

it. In a can filling machine, a measuring pocket, a second pocket below said measuring pocket, means for simultaneously revolving a can and said pockets, means for feeding material through said upper pocket to said lower pocket during revolution series, means for admitting other material to the pockets of said lower series, and means for delivering to cans the contents of the pockets of said lower series.

27. In can filling machine, 'means for measuring a predetermined quantity of granular material, means forsubsequently automatically mixing with said measured quantity of material just sufficient liquid to produce a predetermined quantity of mixture, and means for delivering the mixture to a can.

28. In a can filling machine, a hopper,

a pocket movable past said hopper, a valve between said hopper and said pocket, and means for moving the adjacent portions of said valve and pocket in the same direction when an end of said pocket passes said hopper.

29. In a can filling machine, a hopper, a valve adjacent the discharge of said hopper, a pocket movable past said hopper and said valve, and means for moving the adjacent portions of said valve and pocket in the same direction when the trailing'end of said pocket passes said hopper. v I j 30. In a can filling machine, a,h6pper,, a valve adjacent the discharge of said hopper, a pocket movable past said hopper and said valve, means for moving adjacent portions of said valve and pocket in the same direction when an end of said pocket passes said hopper, and means for subsequently moving said valve in the opposite direction.

31. In a can fillingmachine, a hopper, a measuring device communicable with, said hopper to receive granular material therefrom, a valve operable by said device to cut off communication between said hopp'er and said device when the latter has been filled, means for subsequently mixing with said measured quantity of granular material just,

sufiicient liquid to produce a predetermined quantity of mixture, and means for delivering the mixture to a can.

' 32. In a can filling machine, a hopper, a pocket movable past said hopper, a valve having an edge adjacent said pocket, andmeans for moving the edge of said valve away from said pocket when an end of said pocket passes said hopper; I 33. In a can filling machine, a hopper, a pocket movable past said hopper, a valve having an edge adjacent said ocket,-me'ans for moving the edge of sai valve awav madam ean for. sdbse- 10 

